Electrical egg cooker, bottle sterilizer, and the like



Feb. 7, 1939. D, N, PE|RE 2,146,511

ELECTRICAL EGG COOKER, BOTTLE STERILIZER, AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 5,1936 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Fel. 1, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

Daniel N. Peclrce, Bethayres, Pa., assigner to Fox Products Vania my, acorporation of Pennsyl- Application August 5, i936, Serial No. 94,391

12 Claims.

This invention relates to liquid resistance conductor heating devices inwhich the water to be evaporated completes the circuit. These liquidconductor heating devices are useful for such purposes as egg cookers,bottle sterilizers, and

' the like.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a simple, compact andeffective device of highly practical nature. 'I'he character and obmjects of my invention will be best understood from the following briefstatement of some of the difficulties heretofore-encountered in practicrSome of the devices heretofore propod are open to the objection thatthey are prone to accidental short circuiting. Others can be handledwithout likelihood of shock only if the switch is opened. Still othersare so constructed that cleaning is impossible or so diiiicult that then parts are not cleaned and sediment short circuits them, and theiruseful life is thus greatly shortened. Again, in case of failure,the`whole device had to be returned for repair.

In short, the previous devices for one reason u or another, have beenlacking in simplicity and practical characteristics, so much so that ithas been dimcult to secure reliable distributors to carry them becauseof the frequency oi complaints.

I propose to overcome these diillculties by the construction shown inthe accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure 1 is a cross section throughthe base and electrode carrier members of a device emu bodying myimprovements, a portion of the cap being shown in dotted lines and thesection being on the line I-i of Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1 with the cap removed.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the electrode carrier member, and

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of Figure 3, showing the electrodes.

Referring now to the drawing, the reference s numeral l indicates thebase proper of the device having recesses in its upper face so as toreceive the electrode carrier member 8 and to provide a well 1a for thewater to be evaporated. The base is provided with an annular rim or bead50 Iii adapted to receive and position the cover 9. The base is alsoprovided with two recesses or apertures 1b serving to receive and housethe spring clips i3 held in position by the terminal bolts Il and l2.The nuts which secure the teru minal bolts also serve to hold inposition the insulating strip I4. Another insulating plate Il is locatedbelow and spaced from the strip Il and carried by said strip through themedium of the stud I6. 'I'he insulating plate I! thus closes the bottomof the device covering over the terminal bolts.

'I'he cord I1 is led into the base through the aperture 1c.

The porcelain electrode carrier member l has two posts il adapted to befrictionally engaged lo by the spring clips I3 when the carrier memberis pushed home to the position shown in Figure l. 'I'he two electrodesI9 and 2li are each connected at one end to a terminal post Il, beingsecured by the nuts 2i. The electrodes are each 15 in the form of aspiral with the free ends abutting the central boss 22 of the carriermember, on opposite sides thereof. The carrier member is provided withspiral grooves 8a to freely receive the upper edge portions of thespiral electrodes. Thus the electrodes and the carrier constitute aself-contained unit, the electrodes coming away with the carrier when itis pulled out of place. At the same time the loose t of the upper edgesof the electrodes in the spiral grooves 8a formed 25 in the carrier,permits the electrodes to vibrate, which is of advantage for expansionand other reasons hereinafter stated. Self setting insulating cementcovers over the upper ends of the terminal posts i8 as indicated at lla.Thus. 30 one cannot, in handling the device, be accidentally shocked.Even with the carrier out of place, the clips I3 are so relativelyinaccessible that one would almost have to deliberately go about shortcircuiting them.

The base and the carrier member are provided with complementary recesses24' and 25 cooperating to provide circular recesses to receive the eggs.A plurality of small holes 2l extend through the carrier member so as topermit the steam formed to freely rise during the heating operation.Each recess 1b is in communication with the well 1a by providingconnecting channels as indicated at 21.

It will be noted that the electrodes are almost wholly exposed, only theupper edge portions 1ying in the grooves in the carrier. It will also benoted that the lower edge of the electrodes is substantially above thebottom of the well la.

In operation the device functions as follows: A small quantity of wateris introduced and quickly finds it way to the well and into theapertures lb. The water completes the circuit and acts as a resistanceconductor. The surface presented by the electrodes (each electrede isabout 9 inches in length and a quarter inch in width) for contact withthe water is relatively quite extended and thus ensures rapid heating ofthe water. When the waterhas been evaporated the circuit isautomatically broken. Since the device is practically fool-proof themain switch may be left closed and all that is necessary to make thedevice function is to add the desired amount of water.

Most of the sediment will naturally collect in the bottom of the well.Sediment depositing on the electrodes is largely shaken loose by thevibration of the coils, which takes place when the last of the waterisbeing evaporated. -The sediment shaken on falls to the bottom of thewell, and since the lower edges of theelectrodes are well above thebottom of the well and since the amount of sediment is small, it will beseen that the device can be in service for a long time be-l fore thereis any likelihood of short-circuiting from accumulation of sediment.

Disassemblyfor cleaning purposes merely involves pulling out the carriermember. When this is done all of the surfaces can be readily cleaned bybrushing.

'I'he electrodes being anchored at the end and the turns in part lyingwithin the grooves of the carrier member, the electrodes cannot contactwith one another to produce short circuiting. All of the currentcarrying parts are effectively housed and protected against accidentalinjury and accidental short-circuiting. If the electrodes need to bereplaced, a new carrier unit is substituted without the need ofreturning the whole device to the shop.

vOwing to the arrangement and area of the electrodes, the device beginsto boil water almost instantly.

The vibration of the electrodes occurring when the last of the water isbeing operated, makes a humming sound, giving an audible indication thatthe operation is about complete. Another indication is the stoppage ofdischarge of steam from the small hole usually provided in the upperportion of the cover.

The base proper 1 and the carrier member may be termed a two-part base.

It will also be noted that the carrier unit itself may be used as animmersion heater. This can be done by passing leading-in wires through apair of the larger holes 26 at the periphery of the carrier member andconnecting their ends to the respective terminal posts, whereupon thecarrier member can be immersed in water for immersion heating. Theexternal coniguration of the carrier may desirably be changed for suchuse.

I claim:

1. In a liquid conductor heater, the combination of a base having a wellfor the liquid to be evaporated, an electrode carrier member, a. pair ofelectrodes carried by said member as a unit therewith the circuit ofwhich is adapted to be completed by the liquid in the well, and meansfor detachably securing the carriermemher to the base, the saidelectrodes being in the form of ribbons projecting downwardly from thelower face of the carrier member into said Well.

2. In a liquid conductor heater, the combination of a base having a wellfor the liquidto be evaporated, an electrode carrier member, a pair ofelectrodes carried by said member as a unit therewith the circuit ofwhich is adapted to be completed by the liquid in the well, and meansfor detachably securing the carrier member to of the carrier member intosaid well Abut termi? hating short of the bottom of the well.

3. In a liquid conductor heater, the combination of a base having a wellfor the liquid to be evaporated, an electrode carrier member, a pair ofelectrodes carried bz said member asa unit therewith `the circuit ofwhich is adapted to be completed by the liquid in the well, and meansfor detachably ,securing the carrier member to the base, the saidelectrodes being in the form of horizontally disposed and nesting spiralribbons projecting downwardly from the lower face of the carrier memberinto said well but terminating short of the bottom of the well and beinganchored.

4. In a liquid conductor heater, the combination of a base having a wellfor the liquid to be evaporated, an electrode carrier member, a pair ofelectrodes carried by said member as a unit therewith. the circuit ofwhich is adapted to be completed .by the liquid in the well, and

means for detachably securing the carrier mem b er to the base, the saidelectrodes being in the form of horizontally disposed and nesting spiralribbons projecting downwardly from the lower face of the carrier memberinto said well but terminating short of the bottom of the well and beinganchored at their ends with freedom to expand and vibrate.

5. In a liquid conductor heater, the combination of a base having a wellfor the liquid to be evaporated, an electrode carrier member, a pair ofelectrodes carried by said member as a unit therewith the circuit ofwhich is adapted to be completed bythe liquid in the well, and means fordetachably securing the carrier member to the base, the said electrodesbeing in the form of horizontally disposed and nesting spiral ribbonsprojecting downwardly from the lower face of the carrier member intosaid well but terminating short of the bottom of the well, said carriermember having a plurality of holes extending therethrough.

6. In a liquid conductor heater, abase having a well, upwardly openspring terminal clips carried thereby, and an electrode unit comprisinga carrier member insertable in the well, a pair of spaced electrodescarried thereby at the lower face thereof to have their circuit closedby Ythe liquid in the well, and a pair of terminal posts thereforpresented downwardly and adapted to be frictionally held by the springclips.

7. In a. liquid conductor heater, a base having a well, spring terminalclips carried thereby, and an electrode unit comprising a carrier memberinsertable in the well, a pair of spaced electrodes carried thereby atthe lower face thereof to have their circuit closed by the liquid in thetially fiushupwardly presented surfaces in a plane below the` upper edgeof the base and the carrier member having recessed portions providinggripping surfaces.

8. In a' liquid conductor heater, the combinal for detachably securingthe carrier member to 75 the base, the said electrodes being in the formoi' horizontally disposed and nesting spiral ribbons projectingdownwardly from the lower tace oi.' the carrier member into said wellbut terminating short of the bottom of the well and being anchored attheir ends with their intermediate portions free for limited vibration,the carrier member having spiral grooves receiving the said intermediateportions of the electrodes.

9. In a liquid conductor heater, a two part base, the lower part ofwhich constitutes a well for liquid and the upper part of which haselectrode means incorporated therewith as a unit and disposed at thelower face thereof, electric current. connections having terminalelements mounted on the lower part of the base, and cooperating terminalelements for the electrode means mounted on the upper part of thebase,said terminal elements being disconnectible by relative upwarddisplacement of the upper part of the base.

10. In a liquid conductor heater, a two part base, the lower part ofwhich constitutes a well for liquid and the upper part oi.' which haselectrode means incorporated therewith as a unit and disposed at thelower face thereof, electric current connections having terminalelements mounted on the lower part oi.' the base, and cooperatingterminal elements for .the electrode means mounted on the upper part ofthe base, said terminal elements including Irictionally interengagingparts adapted to secure the two parts of the base together and beingdisconnectible by relative upward displacement of the upper part of thebase.

11. In a liquid conductor heater, a base having an upwardly open chambertherein at least a part of which is adapted to receive a charge ofliquid for evaporation, an electrode carrier member insertible into andremovable from said chamber at its upper open side, spaced electrodesmounted on said carrier member and adapted to project into liquid insaid chamber for completion of their circuit through said liquid, andcooperating disconnectible spring terminal clips and terminal postsmounted on the base and on the carrier member within said chamber.

12. In a liquid conductor heater, a base having an upwardly open chambertherein at least a part of which is adapted to receive a charge o!liquid for evaporation, an electrode carrier member insertible into andremovable from said chamber at its upper open side, spaced electrodesmounted on said carrier member and adapted to project into liquid insaid chamber i'or completion of their circuit through said liquid,electric current connections associated with the base and havingterminal elements exposed in such chamber, and cooperating terminalelements for the electrodes mounted on the carrier member, said terminalelements being disconnectible upon upward displacement of the carriermember with respect to the base.

DANIEL N. PEIRCE.

